Game instrument for poker and similar card games



" Oct. 3o, 1928 A `1,689,380 o13G. D E iYBARY GAME INSTRUMENT FOR POKER AND SIMILAR CARD GAMES original Fi1ea,Apri1 so. 1921 Hfs my.

Patented Get. 30,

UNITED- STATES 1,689,380. PATENT Aorifice.,-

ERVIN GUSTAVE DE BABY, OF AMSTERDAM K0TTACH-'.l"J1Gr.'El]tNEE, GERMANY.

1- GAME INSTRUMENT For; renna AND SIMILAR CARD y GAMES.

Application filed April 30, 1921, Serial No. 465,866, and in Germany May 121l920: Renewed August My invention relates'to a game-instrument intended primarily forjcard games where the cards remain in the hands of the player and bywhich poker andother card games may be played-without playing cards and under conditions Where a table might not vbe available, as in traveling. And -mypurpose is' to obtain by mechanism instead of by shuffling and dealing or other manual methods-a free and chance distribution or assemblage of the game symbols-card symbols in the preferred arrangement-nto a group or hand of the proper number of constituent units, and to do this by a very compact and effective arrangement and structure. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes means for assembling the symbols used in lplaying the game into twoA groups, one corresponding with the deal or hand proper, and the other with the draw. "i

To this'end I provide a Aseries and preferably two series of disks, each bearinga set of symbols-as playing card symbols-and mounted for free rotation in a casing having, opposite the' symbol-carrying face of each disk, an aperture of a size to disclose at anyl Y given time one only of said symbols,`the rest being screened I employ manually operable, or controllable, means for simultaneously rotating the disks of one or both series, and then automatically and simultaneously freeing them for individual rotation. Itis mostconvenient to 'arrest the individual disks simultaneously, and means for so arresting them may and ordinarily would be added.

The employment of two series of novel and advantageous, particularly in playing a draw game such as poker, and the compact arrangement and the operating mechanism has more than a merely specific novelty and advantage.

Further features of my invention .will appear in the detailed description here following, and will be pointed out Ain the claims.

Referring to the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a top view of the front or obverse of my new game instrument;

Fig. 2 is a lhorizontal section through the same, showing the internal construction;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line -B of Fig. 2; V

Figs. 4, l5; larger scale,

6 and '7 are detail views on a Figs. A, 6 and 7 being sections from view by the casing. And

disks is l tkeiciI respectively on lines (1 -D, EF, and

Thenevv device has preferably the shape and appearance of a watch and, in it-s preferred form, comprises two concentric series of live or any number (according to the game to be played) of disks, upon which( are placed sets of symbols used in the game,` e. g., the

y cards belonging to a pack. rFhese disks of Peach series, or of both series, may be simultaneously set to rotating, or respectively arrested in positions in which one card only on each disk is visible. Of the two sets of symbols visible, one serves to apportion the cards which in dealing would come to each player,` while the other is intended for the apportionment of those cards which each player would receive in the course of the game. Both series may bev located within a common casing and so arranged, for instance, that one series of five disks rotates beneath the face orA obverse side of the case and the other beneath the reverse. i

The simultaneous rotation of the disks of each series may be effected by winding up a spiral or watch-spring, and'by means of a spring-actuated and inward moving push.

lf one series of disks is superimposed upon `the other in a common case the starting spring or push may be common to both, as may also the arrester. The latter may comprise another push to elfect a return movement of the central wheel orwheels hereinafter 'referred to, when placed in connecting positionwith the said rotatory disks, and a stoppage of the central wheels.

The drawing shows a watch-case a in which ythe disks are disposed in circular series coni 'centric with each bther and with the case, bei mg conveniently located respectlvely as illustrated on opposite sides of a transverse partition b parallel to the long axis of the case, the disks@ and d being preferably mounted loose on the common shafts z', 7c, each disk 0 being connected with a gear wheel g and each disk d `with a gear wheel h. The gear wheels g are in mesh with a centrallylocated gear e fast'to thev shaft Z on which also is fast the los push a is moved inward in opposition to the action of the spring p. The shaft Z is supported in a vertically movable frame g (see Figs. 3 and 4). This frame is under the action of a releasing lever 1 and a returning spring or Weight. Movement of the lever 1' transversely of the shaft Z may be readily provided for as by the slot r1. The lever r may be immediately actuated by a slide t mountedon the partition Z) and being, respectively, subject to the action of the starting push n and to that of another push it serving to stop the rotation of the respective card disks. The starting push a hits the slide t and pushes it beyond the lever-end s. This occurs as soon as the rack-portion o of the push has passed over, or approximately over, the toothed starting Wheel m. In this Way pressing in the push n rotates the disks, whereupon the lever 7 is actuated and lifts the frame g With the starting Wheel m and the two central Wheels e, f, the starting-Wheel m getting out of the path of the rack-portion o, while'the central Wheels e and f' become disengaged from the Wheels g, L and thus get out of connection With the card disks c, d, the latter continuing their rotations-freely. Unless it is preferred that they run out until exhausted, the rotation may be stopped by an inward movement ofthe arresting-pin u at any desired moment. For this purpose the said arresting-push u is provided with a Vdetent lw engaging the starting Wheel m and with a tooth acting to return the slide t. By the return movement of the said slide t the lever i" is released, permitting the frame g to go down again. In this Way the 4startingsvvheel m gets again Within the path yof the rackportion 0 of the starting push a which has in the vmeantime returned, and the central gears e and f resume connection with the Wheels g and z.. Preferably the push u may be provided vvith a detent permitting its retention in arresting position until the disks4 0, d are again rotated. After the `disengagement of this detent the return of the push u may be automatically accomplished by a rearwardI acting spring y. y

.The card-disks c, d may, for instance, be divided in six and, respectively, seven compartments each 7of'vvhich is to receive one of the pictures of a pack of cards, the compartments of the set c together With those of the -set d sho-Wing up in this way all of the several -cards belonging to a pack.

Above these cardedisks c, there is over each a transparent opening a of the size of al,

compartment, so that when the disks c and d have after rotation come to a stop, one compartment, that is, one card picture Will be exhibited. The card pictures thus'shovvn on the obverse face of the instrument represent the cardsvvhich the player receives and those exhibited on the reverse denote those cardsI which the player is in accordance With the rules of the game entitled to exchange for those on the front face. To permit such an exchange the opening .e on the obverse and reverse faces may be provided with symbols or characters, as for instance, numerals ap-l pearing' in equal pairs.A Suppose, for instance, a player says, he Wishes to exchange the cards exhibited by equal openings 3y and 5, the instrument is turned upside down and the cards .exhibited by the correspondingr openings on the reverse face are those which the player has received in the exchange.v If

the reverse set of disks has a sepa-rate starting and arresting device, the cards Which the player is to receive in exchange can be determined only after calling the openings and subsequently reversing the instrument. In the other case the openings z of the reverse face may ordinarily be covered by a lid or the like until the player has called out the cards he Wantsto exchange.

I would mention that the4 detent or stopping-mechanism or device for the card disks may be so shaped that the disks are retained in a position in which one of its compartments coincides continually With the opening next l above.

I claim l. The herein described game-instrumentfor poker and similar games of `cards com 'through which one card is exhibited y the rotating disk when arrested, and in combination therewith another series of similar dlsks prising simultaneously rotatable, and arrestbearing other card pictures belonging to the same pack exhibited on instrument. v e

2. In the herein described game-instrument for poker and similar games of cards compris-y ing series of simultaneously rotatable, and

the reverse side of the tures of the cards belonging to a pack, as set forth in claim '1, the combination of a simultaneously acting mechanism adapted to set the said series of disks in rotation, and a simultaneously acting mechanism adapted to stop said rotation.

3. A game device comprising a casing of the Watch-case type,

and to stop said rotation,`

Asimultaneously arrestable disks bearing picy two series of disks rotatably mounted thverein,'each bearing game.

bearing'syrnbols used in playing the game, as

set forth in claim 4, and a second inward movable push adapted to be disconnected from or to be operatively connected with the concentric gears and thereby with the said rotatable disks to'cause rotation of the same to be arrested.

6. In a game-instrument for poker and other games comprising two series each of commonly rotatable and arrestable disks bearing symbols used in playing the game, and screened from view save for 'one symbol on each disk, one of said series of disks repre senting the deal and the other the draw, and` means for actuating and controlling said disks comprising central gears adapted to mesh with and to release smaller pinions operatively connected to respective disks, and

i means for actuating said central gears.

7. A game-instrument for poker and similar games of cards comprising series each of commonly rotatable and commonly arrestable disks bearing the pictures of cards belonging to a pack, large to small drive gears arranged for operative connection with said disks and for disconnection therefrom, and, actuating and controlling means for said disks comp-rising a bodily shiftable gear for driving and arresting said gearing, and means to operate and to arrestsai' hiftable gear.

8. In a game-i strument forv poker and other games comprising an apertured casing having therein, and partially visible theren through, series each of commonly rotatable and arrestable disks bearing respectively sets of symbols used in the game, and means for actuating and controlling said disks comprising a central gear around the axis of which'said disks are arranged, a series of gears each operatively connected to one of said disks and normally in mesh with said central gear, and

an inward push capable of operative engagey ment with and disengagement from the central gear hereinabove mentioned, to cause the same to operate and then free said disks.

A' 9. A game device comprising a casing, two series of disks rotatably mounted therein,

, each disk bearing game symbols one series representing the deal and the other the draw,

means for rotating each of said disks including gearing to each of said disks, and means for interrupting the gearing to each-of said disks.

10. watch-caset pe having both sides apertured, two series o disks located adjacent opposite sides of the casing, the disks each facing the I n A l 'game device comprlsmg a caslng ofl adjacent aperturedside and being mounted in the casing-for free. rotation, the disks oflboth series having their aXes disposed inaJ circle whose center is the short aXi's of the casing,

.each disk bearinga set of symb'olsf'used in playing the game and of which only one symbol of each set is visible at any one time through thecorresponding aperture, and means mounted in the casing concentrically wit-h the said circle of disk axes and operatively connected to the disks of both series mounted therein for free rotation and having.

their axes disposed in a circle whose center is the short axis of the casing, each disk bearing a -set of` symbols used in playing the game and of which only one symbol of each set is visible at any one time through the corresponding aperture, meanswmounted in the casing concentrically with the said circle of d'isk axes and operatively connected to said disks for simultaneously giving them rapid rotation and then freeing them for independent individual continued rotation, and means for axially shifting said means for giving the disks vsimultaneous rotation.

12. lA device for. playing poker or other games comprising an a ertured casing, two series of disks rotatab y mounted therein, each disk of each seriescarrying pla ing-card symbols, one series serving to in icate the deal, and the other the draw, only one card symbolona given disk being visible at anyone time through an adjacent aperture in the casing the rest bein covered, and means for setting the' disks of lo-th series in rapid rotation and thereafter freeing them for independent individual rotation. i 13; iA. device for playing poker or other games comprising an a ertured casing, two series of disks rotatab y mountedy therein, each disk ofeach series carrying playing-card symbols, one series serving gto indicate the deal, and the other the draw, symbol on a given disk being visible at any one time through an adjacent aperture in the casing the rest being covered-,means for settin the disks of both series in rapid rotation an only one card l thereof, each disk bearing other card pictures and movable behind an opening through which one card is exhibited by the rotating disk when arrested, and means for rotating and arresting the several disks.

15. vA game device comprising a casing of watch-case type, two concentric series of disks rotatablymounted therein, the disks of one series facing one side of the casing and those of the other facing the opposite side of the casing, sets of game symbols arranged on said disks, and actuating means for said disks located in thespace between the planes of the disks of the respective series.

l5 16. A game device comprising a casing of watch-case type, two concentric series of disks rotatably mounted therein, the disks of one y series facing one side of the casing and those of the other facing ythe opposite side of the casing, sets of game symbols arranged on said disks and screened from view except for an olpening foreach set of a sizefto display one of t e symbols of that set, the openings on each necte to each ydisk and including a drive gear said circle and gears conconcentric wit nected to individual dlsks, means for rotating said drlve gear, and means for interrupting the gearing connection between said driveV gear and individual gears of the disks.

18.- A game device comprising a casing, two Series of disks rotatably mounted therein, each bearing game symbols, one series representing the deal and the other the draw, means for freely spinning each of the deal disks and means forjfreely spinning each of the draw disks.

In testimon whereof I aiix my signature. ER IN GUSTAVE DE BABY. 

